Cultural terminology

Abstract Until the 1980s, African linguistics was dominated by descriptive and comparative linguistics. Linguists strongly refrained from intervening in African languages and modifying them in any way so as not to distort linguistic authenticity. However, when some languages attained national or official status and were used in adult literacy, applied linguistics were developed by dedicated institutions throughout Africa. Supported by international organisations and collaborative networks, these institutions produced thematic lexicons in African languages. Some Africanist linguists directed their research toward linguistics for development, paying special attention to speakers’ needs. Finally, through workshops organised at the laboratory Langage, Langues et Cultures d’Afrique Noire (LLACAN) in the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris, Marcel Diki-Kidiri developed the theory of Cultural Terminology, various aspects of which have been presented and acknowledged in several international conferences.